About
Chris Trotter
Latest articles
Winston Peters plans to set off a landslide of disillusioned Labour voters by deploying the explosive force of democratic expectations
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Winston Peters plans to set off a landslide of disillusioned Labour voters by deploying the explosive force of democratic expectations
If the Opportunity Party wants to enter Parliament, then it will need policies that make the voters say: 'Wow! That’s a bloody good idea!'
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If the Opportunity Party wants to enter Parliament, then it will need policies that make the voters say: 'Wow! That’s a bloody good idea!'
Prince Andrew should have listened to his mother. More to the point, the Queen should have made him listen
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Prince Andrew should have listened to his mother. More to the point, the Queen should have made him listen
Turning Te Pāti Māori towards the urban Māori working-class would be an exceedingly dangerous move
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Turning Te Pāti Māori towards the urban Māori working-class would be an exceedingly dangerous move
Chris Trotter notes that vast edifices, paid for by wealthy aristocrats to secure favours, have historically been the special preserve of kings and emperors, not democratically-elected and democratically-accountable presidents
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Chris Trotter notes that vast edifices, paid for by wealthy aristocrats to secure favours, have historically been the special preserve of kings and emperors, not democratically-elected and democratically-accountable presidents
A prolonged strike by teachers and health workers is not a realistic proposition – and everybody knows it
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A prolonged strike by teachers and health workers is not a realistic proposition – and everybody knows it
The real wonder is not that voter turnout is so low for local government elections, but that it remains so high
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The real wonder is not that voter turnout is so low for local government elections, but that it remains so high
Some nations are congratulated for embracing the ideas needed to overcome adversity, others are damned for succumbing to ideologies that only make things worse
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Some nations are congratulated for embracing the ideas needed to overcome adversity, others are damned for succumbing to ideologies that only make things worse
A day will come when recognising Palestine makes diplomatic sense. But it is not today
The Māori seats are not, by definition, for everyone
What happens when social cohesion unravels?
Most people think 'centrist' means 'moderate', but it ain’t necessarily so
The Coalition Government is aware of the electorate’s needs – why won’t it meet them?
If the election was scheduled for next week, Hipkins could win. Luckily for Luxon, it’s next year
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If the election was scheduled for next week, Hipkins could win. Luckily for Luxon, it’s next year
In the face of the Covid threat, we were New Zealanders before we were anything else. National’s response would have been the same as Labour’s
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In the face of the Covid threat, we were New Zealanders before we were anything else. National’s response would have been the same as Labour’s
Raising taxes will be a hard-sell for Chris Hipkins if all the additional revenue is pledged to funding pay equity
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Raising taxes will be a hard-sell for Chris Hipkins if all the additional revenue is pledged to funding pay equity
If Chris Bishop steers National to victory in 2026, only one reward makes any sense
Not all children are nice. Not all of the insights of young people are wholesome
Over the next 15 months, the clear strategic imperative for all three Coalition partners is break-out. Each must seize as much of the Right’s ideological territory as possible for themselves
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Over the next 15 months, the clear strategic imperative for all three Coalition partners is break-out. Each must seize as much of the Right’s ideological territory as possible for themselves
Conservative New Zealand is still waiting for the Coalition to keep its promises – and NZ First’s surging poll numbers may be registering their impatience
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Conservative New Zealand is still waiting for the Coalition to keep its promises – and NZ First’s surging poll numbers may be registering their impatience
Until Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori understand that the battle for law and order is waged in every human heart, and that if it is lost there, then it will be lost everywhere, they will never be returned to, or reconciled with, power
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Until Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori understand that the battle for law and order is waged in every human heart, and that if it is lost there, then it will be lost everywhere, they will never be returned to, or reconciled with, power
Race and class, eh? Can’t win with ‘em, can’t win without ‘em. Order your popcorn now
One of the great pitfalls of political nostalgia is that the protagonists of the present can all too easily be mistaken for the antagonists of the past
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One of the great pitfalls of political nostalgia is that the protagonists of the present can all too easily be mistaken for the antagonists of the past
A National-led government that can no longer claim, with any credibility, to represent the nation, is a National-led Government on the ropes
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A National-led government that can no longer claim, with any credibility, to represent the nation, is a National-led Government on the ropes
History’s judgement of the manner in which the Coalition Government’s majority expressed its racially-charged hostility towards Te Pāti Māori is unlikely to be kind, says Chris Trotter
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History’s judgement of the manner in which the Coalition Government’s majority expressed its racially-charged hostility towards Te Pāti Māori is unlikely to be kind, says Chris Trotter